Well, Jay, we didn’t agree about holding graduations in churches. It looks like we won’t agree on what students can say or do at graduation, either. Songs which mention God are usually called “hymns.” Hymns are prayers set to music. […]

Barry, I think the one thing we can agree on is that as long as graduation ceremonies take place across the country, there will be questions – concerns – and ongoing debate about what’s proper and what it not. What […]

Jay, let me assure you and all our commentators that I would be similarly upset about a public school graduation in a mosque or in a predominantly GLBT Metropolitan Community Church. The doctrine of this particular church is, of course, […]

Barry, as you know, many graduation ceremonies are held in churches around the country every year. The reason for this is simple and has nothing to do with religion: the church facility, in many communities, provides the space needed to […]

Well, Jay, let’s move from the national scene to a local one. Americans United has now filed a precedent-setting lawsuit challenging the use of a church for a public high school graduation ceremony in Wisconsin. We had asked a number […]

Barry, I really don’t understand what you are talking about. Much of what President Obama is being criticized for revolves around substantive issues – not style. And, it’s hardly “nitpicking” as you suggest. A lot of troubling developments have occurred […]

I’ve been out in California a few days and I’m constantly hearing people ask: “Why doesn’t the Right ever give President Obama a break?” What they mean is that literally every day the hosts of Fox News, the Drudge Report, […]

Barry, let’s call this Homeland Security report on “Rightwing Extremism” what it is – offensive and insulting to millions of law-abiding citizens – including veterans and pro-life supporters – who exercise their constitutional rights to speak about issues that matter […]

Jay, I can’t believe you have gotten roped into complaining about the Department of Homeland Security’s recent assessment of potential terrorist threats from right-wing groups. You are joining Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council and “columnist” Michelle Malkin in […]

Barry, rest assured there is a new and vibrant generation of conservative Christians that are already engaging what are called the “Culture Wars.” I personally have never liked that phraseology. This is really a clash of world views. There is […]

Please note that in discussing political issues, candidates’ positions and political party statements, the Rev. Barry Lynn and Jay Sekulow are offering analysis in their individual capacities as lawyers and commentators. They are not speaking on behalf of Americans United for Separation for Church and State or for the American Center for Law & Justice. Those organizations do not endorse or oppose candidates for public office. Nothing contained in this dialogue should be construed as the positions of the respective organizations.

Jay Sekulow

Since 1992, the Rev. Barry W. Lynn has served as executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington, D.C.-based organization dedicated to the preservation of the Constitution's religious liberty provisions (www.au.org).

In addition to his work as a long-time activist and lawyer in the civil liberties field, Lynn is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, offering him a unique perspective on church-state issues.

An accomplished speaker and lecturer, Lynn has appeared frequently on television and radio broadcasts to offer analysis of First Amendment issues. News programs on which Lynn has appeared include PBS's "NewsHour," NBC's "Today Show," Fox News Channel's "O'Reilly Factor," ABC's "Nightline," CNN's "Crossfire," CBS's "60 Minutes," MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes," ABC's "Good Morning America," CNN's "Larry King Live" and the national nightly news on NBC, ABC and CBS.

On the radio, Lynn serves as host of "Culture Shocks," a daily look at various issues affecting society and the culture. In the 1990s he served for two years as regular co-host of "Pat Buchanan and Company" and after that did a weekly syndicated radio program, "Review of the News," with Col. Oliver North. Lynn is a regular guest on nationally broadcast radio programs, including National Public Radio's "All Things Considered," "Morning Edition" and "Talk of the Nation," as well as having appeared on national networks such as CBS Radio, CNN Radio, ABC Radio and AP Radio.

Lynn began his professional career working at the national office of the United Church of Christ, including a two-year stint as legislative counsel for the Church's Office of Church in Society in Washington, D.C. From 1984 to 1991 he was legislative counsel for the Washington office of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Lynn writes frequently on religious liberty issues, and has had essays published in outlets such as USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Nation. Lynn also has op-eds published frequently by the McClatchy and Scripps-Howard newspaper chains.

A member of the Washington, D.C. and U.S. Supreme Court bar, Lynn earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1978. In addition, he received his theology degree from Boston University School of Theology in 1973.

Lynn, who was born in Harrisburg, Pa., and raised in Bethlehem, Pa., lives in Chevy Chase, Md., with his family.